Proceno Red Garlic Festival

A festival born to showcase an iconic product

The Proceno Red Garlic Festival is the summer event that the small municipality of Proceno, in the far north of the Viterbo province, in the Lazio region, dedicates to its most famous culinary excellence. The village overlooks the Val di Paglia, just a stone's throw from the borders with Tuscany and Umbria, and for two days in July, it transforms its squares, gardens, and alleys into a continuous journey of tastings, meetings, and music. Admission to all events is free.

Red Garlic, the treasure of Alta Tuscia

Proceno Red Garlic is recognized by its medium-sized bulbs wrapped in an intense red tunic, its bold aroma, and balanced flavor, but above all by its extraordinary shelf life. According to local tradition, garlic cultivation in these lands dates back to the Etruscan era. Even today, the bulbs are hand-braided into characteristic reste—bunches containing anywhere from five to thirty heads—a traditional craft that can be observed live during the festival. The product is included in the Slow Food Ark of Taste, a recognition that protects its biodiversity and supports the few producers who continue its cultivation.

What to expect during the weekend

• Food and wine stalls featuring typical Tuscia products and direct sales of Red Garlic;
• Local producers' market, showcasing regional agricultural businesses;
• Tastings and traditional dishes featuring garlic as the star, from bruschetta to spaghetti with garlic, oil, and chili;
• Guided tours of the medieval village and access to the Museo Urbano Diffuso (Open-Air Urban Museum);
• Conferences and meetings dedicated to biodiversity, agricultural tradition, and the garlic promotion project within Slow Food;
• Free outdoor concerts held in the gardens and squares of the town center;
• Vintage Fiat 500 rally, now a classic Sunday tradition.

From the Bruschetta Festival to the current event

The festival did not emerge from nowhere: it carries on the legacy of the historic Bruschetta and Red Garlic Festival, which reached over twenty-nine editions in Proceno and was once held around mid-August, coinciding with the feast of Saint Agnes. Since 2024, the municipal administration, in collaboration with Slow Food Viterbo and Tuscia, as well as local cooperatives and producer associations, has relaunched the event with a new look and a date closer to the harvest, featuring a format that combines gastronomy with cultural and musical programming. The project also includes the traveling initiative Procenando, which brings tastings to the village squares.

A village worth the trip

Proceno has just over five hundred inhabitants and is one of the most charming villages in Alta Tuscia: the fortress, historic palaces, stone alleys, and the view over the countryside bordering Lazio, Tuscany, and Umbria make it worth visiting even outside of the festival. Its location, a short distance from Acquapendente, Lake Bolsena, and the Val d'Orcia, makes it perfect for a weekend getaway exploring villages, wineries, and rural landscapes.

Why you should go

If you are looking for an authentic festival, far from mass tourism and close to those who truly work the land, you will find a town-scale event here: few producers, a rare product, and many direct encounters. It is also a great starting point to understand how agricultural biodiversity protection works in Italy, a theme the festival addresses every year with experts and local Slow Food presidia.